Simon Cowell on Britain's Got Talent: 'Everyone predicted doom'

It may have been snowing like crazy in London at the weekend, but that didn't stop Simon Cowell from sporting sunglasses, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon baring flesh in their daring dresses or devout fans braving the sub zero temperatures for a glimpse of David Walliams and hosts Ant and Dec, as Britain's Got Talent hit the capital.

Speaking to Digital Spy on the steps of the London Palladium - which allowed Dec a rare chance to look down on his lofty presenting partner - the BGT crew seemed confident that the upcoming seventh series would be the best yet, in spite of falling ratings for sister show The X Factor and another head-to-head battle with The Voice UK.

Speaking of BGT's ratings win over The Voice last year, Cowell said: "Everyone kind of predicted doom and gloom and then the word of mouth spreads, and in the end we beat them.

"I don't take anything for granted. We push these producers like crazy to try and make a better show than we did the year before, but it actually will rest on how good the talent is or how bad it is."

On the acts that have auditioned so far, he added: "The first day in Cardiff I sat there thinking, 'This is going to be a total disaster'.

"I remember the same thing happening on the Susan Boyle year, bored out of my mind thinking we weren't going to find anyone decent, and I see this woman shuffling on to the side... it all changes in one audition."

Ant and Dec admitted to us that even in their seventh series they struggle to avoid making rash judgements about the talent.

"We've already done it this year where we go, 'Oh really, that's what you're doing? On you go then'," said Dec, with Ant finishing: "And then [they get a] standing ovation and the crowd love it and you go, 'Oops'."

Dixon, meanwhile, revealed to DS that David Walliams has already invaded the stage during one performance, the comedian himself teased that he might not continue with the show if Cowell left, and Holden admitted that she still doesn't feel in charge of the panel despite being BGT's longest-serving judge.